A SINGING prison officer described by Gary Barlow on the X Factor as ‘phenomenal’ grew up in Bexley.

Thirty-five-year-old Sam Bailey was also told by veteran judge Louis Walsh she “deserves a recording contract” following her second audition on the show, which was broadcast on Sunday evening.

Sam was a student at Cleve Park School in Bexley Lane, Sidcup and was a regular in The Albany pub in Steynton Avenue.

She now lives in Leicestershire with her husband and two children, where she is a prison officer at HMP Gartree in Market Harborough.

Her first performance on the ITV talent show saw her perform Listen by Beyonce to the four judges, who gave her a standing ovation.

She then took to the stage at Wembley Arena in front of a 4,000 strong crowd for the second phase of the auditions, where she sung Who's Loving You by The Jacksons.

Take That star Gary Barlow described her rendition as “absolutely phenomenal “whilst Louis Walsh told her: “You hit every single note, it was powerful and yet it was effortless – you deserve a recording contract.”

Returning judge Sharon Osbourne added: “Every word you feel, you tell the perfect story of the song and you blew me away - amazing.”

While Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger said: “That is what I am talking about. Sam Bailey - everybody remember that name.

“This is your time – it is happening to you right now.”

With four nods from the judges, Sam sailed through to the boot camp stage of the competition, which is due to be aired later this month.

Do you remember Sam from her Bexley days? Email your memories to the newsroom.